Questions for military personnel

Q

Q-dog

Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Messages
2
Greetings,

I'm heading for the sandbox in a few months, so I purchased an ATC VT. It arrived today and I was very happy with it, but now I have a few questions.

First, How did you carry it. I was thinking about my LBE, but it is currently filled with other equipment. Did you use the "London Bridge" holster or did you buy another type/brand?

Next, did your command give you a hard time about the weapon?

Thank you,

Q
 
I just got back a month ago as an MP so,

1) It will depend on your command.
2) What area you'll be in and, who you'll be around.
3) Don't be suprised when and if it is confiscated when you come back(by customs MP's. Mine was in a plastic footlocker and was taken because it was not military issued equipment. (????) Luckily my 'hawk was a cheap p.o.s. and I expected this to happen so,no real cash value lost.
 
Q-Dog...love your screen name.

I'll just add a few remarks for everyone's benefit. BTW...they don't allow the Tomahawk at SFAS. ;)

The VTAC is "Force Protection/Mobility" issue equipment under the Army's PEO/PM Solider CIE, Rapid Fielding Initiative program. Currently, it's authorization for use does depend on your command. However, that may change.

In most cases, Soldiers use the London Bridge sheath as provided or they'll modify it.

In others, they'll pick up a Survival Sheath Systems concealex sheath body and lash it somewhere to their leg for handle up deployment. In others, a complete SSS rig does the trick.

In any event, it is quickly becoming the standard personal Axe for the Soldier's needs. Please keep your head down over there and come home safe. We'll be keeping you in thoughts and prayers.
 
Use M16 sling and run / sew to the issue sheath.

Then just throw it over your chest cross-wise (over body armor / LBE). It'll ride at your side and is handy plus comfortable.

Tell anyone who asks the 'hawk is the issue 'hawk to the Striker Brigade and other Army units to include Special Forces.

It is emergency breaching tool and extraction tool if you're jammed up in a vehicle just hit by an IED.

That should take care of you both coming and going.

Plus, be kool with it over there. The less you flash the less the brass will notice or care.

Ours/mine did fine.

Watch your six -

GW
 
Like Mr. Walker said, use a "cross body baldric" style sheath. It is by far the most comfortable way to wear it.

I carried a Brend hatchet the entire time I was there (March-May 03) and never had a problem with my command. Of course, it depends on who you know and who you show too! ;)

Just get in good with your CO and he will want one too (just hope it isn't yours!!)
 
Are you infantry? If you're not, a tomahawk is not that vital. I made my own personal sheath for my interceptor body armor. I will be in Iraq within a couple months and I am infantry. I will have at least 2 tomahawks with me over there. Although, depending on your chain of command etc. you may or may not be able to even carry a tomahawk. Believe it or not I have run into trouble in my barracks about tomahawks. Anyway, make your own sheath out of 550 or whatever you want. Be creative. Its gonna be some ****.

Btw, hey Andy, how're you doin? I still have three of your hawks and love 'em to death. I thank you for your great customer service and hope your business thrives with the great products you've produced. **** Hadgi.

Rob
 
I use the standard pouch, and the gp strap from my 2qt. canteen to sling it. I also opened up the hole for the shaft so i could add some athletic tape for a better grip. I put the hawk on first then the rest of my kit. I may just start strapping it to the OP bag though. The main reason I carry is to help set up hides and in case I need a can opener to get into a Kiowa or truck.

Stay on the bounce guys.
 
I strap mine to the outside of my issue Camelback motherload, useing the sheath it came with..
 
BlueFlintHawk said:
Are you infantry? If you're not, a tomahawk is not that vital.
Click to expand...

Rob - I'm pretty late checking out this thread, but I just wanted to point out that everyone is infantry up there. I'm a tanker stationed in Kuwait (at a desk), but according all the people I've talked to, infantrymen, tankers, MPs, artillerymen, air defenders, etc. are all walking the beat and busting down doors. The only guys who aren't doing that stuff are the transporters, and I'll be the first to say that I wouldn't want their job!

The new term over here is "ILO MP" (In Lieu Of Military Police) - some of the field artillery guardsmen that work with us have a sister battalion in Iraq that left their big guns behind and are running convoy security between the major basecamps.

Anyway, I think it's important for people coming over here to be ready for the worst, and to come prepared. I'll be back in the Spring with my next unit, and I'm thinking very seriously about ordering a VT to take with me. I just want to get a feel for my next command first and see how they'd react to that kind of gear.

Stay safe, everybody,

Dave,
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
 
My older brother is '03, USMC Infantry, heading to Iraq next month. We've been talking about tomahawks in combat. I asked him what would happen if he used a tomahawk to kill an insurgent, and he said that would be "beyond force" or something, if you dispatched someone with a 'hawk (though the situation determines). Also said that you run a high risk of getting it confiscated through customs.
 
HawkPatriot...

We have never heard of "beyond force" and have no reports on file of our Tomahawks being confiscated.

The VTAC is an MOS specific issue item to our Soldiers. Now the USMC might be a different story, but we have countless customers who are Marines carrying the Hawk in the Middle East.

Hope this helps...
 
Maybe my brother was talking about "Hey I still have my M16 but lets see if I can hit that insurgent over there with my 'hawk!" being material for a court martial. I know that if you aren't out of ammo or in CQB, you wouldn't use a 'hawk... "Beyond force" weren't his words but it was something like that, dealing with politically correct self-defense on the battlefield.

As for the confiscation of a 'hawk, one member wrote above that it happened to him going through customs.
 
3ACR_Scout said:
- some of the field artillery guardsmen that work with us have a sister battalion in Iraq that left their big guns behind and are running convoy security between the major basecamps.
Dave,
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Click to expand...
We've got an artillery battalion and an armor battalion there and neither took their guns/tanks. I think the sister battalion you referred to is our guys. Remember the old joke in AIT? "All it takes to make you an 11B is the stroke of a pen."
 
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